Parachute opening means



. Mam}! 2 G. TOMASETTA I I 5 PARACHUTE OPENING MEANS Filed'duly 30, 19581 N VEN TOR. Gll/JLP/T TOM/76E T771 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT or ies Application July 30,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to aerial apparatus adapted to expand whenexposed to the resistance of the air, and when so expanded as to supporta considerable weight, permitting it to slowly and safely descend to theearth. v

An object of the invention is to provide a parachute structure having,when it is desired to operate it, an unobstructed space at its loweredges, whereby it is immediately and positively opened to its fullextent automatically upon passing through the air, as by having a weightattached at a high or low altitude and released from whatever may havepreviously supported it.

A further feature is in the provision of a parachute that may be closelyand compactly folded, thereby requiring a minimum of space in anaircraft where such apparatus are required as safety appliances in theevent of accident or mishap occurring.

These highly important objects are accomplished by the novelconstruction and arrangement of simple parts hereinafter described andshown in the annexed drawing, forming an essential component of thisdisclosure, and in which;

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention, shown in itsclosed condition, as for storage.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same, shown in an expanded, operativeposition.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the parachute frame, parts being shown insection and the superstructure omitted.

Figure 4 is a sectional view looking on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of one of the guyrod ends.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, a hood I5, made of a specialtextile fabric, is foldable as in Figure 1, and capable of assuming aninverted cup shape as in Figure 2, and is provided with a plurality ofuniformly spaced tabs I6 along its circumferential edge.

Firmly connected to the tabs iii are strong cords I! of considerablelength, their opposite ends converging into groups I8 attached at theirterminals to a swing frame seat I 9 suited to support a. human body.

A sectional oval ring generally designated by the numeral 20, is formedby the arcuate tubes 2l-22, each having crossbars 23-24 at theirjuxtaposed ends, one of the bars, as 23 provided with a pair of opposedspring clips 25 adapted to engage over the other bar, as best seen inFigures 3 and 4.

, Plugs 26, fixed in the ends of one tube engage in the correspondingopening in the other tube, normally retain the ring intact but permitseparation when under strain.

1938, Serial No. 222,157

A plurality of rods 21, equal in number to the cords l1, have theirinner ends rigidly secured in the ring 20 to extend radially andhorizontally therefrom.

The outer ends of the rods are fixed in openings 29 in the reducedportions 30 of tubular guides 3|, having smoothly beaded edges 32, andthrough which the cords I! may freely pass, as at 33, as best seen inFigures 4 and 5, the cords thereafter being trained over the ring 20 ontheir way to the seat l9.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the several cords are heldnormally distended when ready to operate and that the holding means aremerely thin rods, not affecting the entrance of air to the parachute ata critical moment, and this effect is further enhanced by separation ofthe frame ring 20 when the apparatus is weighted, as in supporting aperson.

The parachute may be collapsed, as shown in Fig. 1, and suspended from aretaining means (not shown) on a wall, or, if desired, suitably foldedand stored in any convenient manner for ready access when needed.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the best known embodiment ofthe invention, it will be apparent that changes in proportions andconstruction may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and soughtto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a parachute having a hood and a seat member, a rigid sectionalframe ring, radial rods extending from said frame, said rods havingtubular guides at their ends, and cords connecting said seat member andhood, said cords passing through said guides whereby they arehelddistended.

2. In a parachute having a hood and a seat member, a rigid sectionalframe ring, radial rods extending from said frame, said rods havingtubular guides at their ends, and cords connecting said seat member andhood, said cords passing through said guides whereby they are helddistended, and over said frame ring to converge at said seat member.

3. In a parachute having a hood and a seat member, a rigid sectionalframe ring, means normally retaining the sections of said ring injuxtaposition, radial rods extending from said frame, said rods havingtubular guides at their ends, and cords connecting said seat member andhood, said cords passing through said guides whereby they are helddistended, and over said frame ring to converge at said seat member.

GIUSEPPE TOMASETTA.

